Tor is built-in and automatically starts in Tails. All you have to do to start using the Tor network is connect to the internet and use the Tor browser.

Features in Tor Browser

1. UnSafe Browser: Connecting the Internet

Connecting the internet is easy to do in Tails but you have to know of a small detail when using “Public” wifi networks. Those networks may have a login page that requires a username/password or simple form that asks you to accept their terms and services. Using the Tor Browser to login to these networks will not work, for this reason you will have to use the UnSafe Browser.

Once you connect to the wifi you should start browsing the web with Tor Browser and NOT use the UnSafe Browser.

1. Tor Browser Directory

Tails ensures that you are extra secure from malicious downloads by sandboxing any downloads from the Tor Browser. For this reason a special directory live on your system that is for the sole purpose of storing the downloads from Tor Browser. Likewise if you would like to upload a document to a website, you will have to save or move that file to the Tor Browser Directory.

1. Checking your Tor Relays

You can easily check your Tor Relay status by going to check.torproject.org. This will show you your public IP in the Tor network and show if you have any error this page will help resolve them. You can also quickly toggle different relays so you can mask your IP.

You can use Tails to securely setup a LUKS encrypted partion on a USB drive or any other disks. When we did the talk on Encryption (stxlug.com/meetup-4-20-19) we covered LUKS encryption. Tails makes it super easy to encrypt partitions using the Disks application.

Tails includes an application called OnionShare that allows you to share files via the Onion network. Using this method is more secure than using other file sharing services though it can be slower.

Check out the channel Infosec Bytes for videos on using all of these technologies.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfET6btFpe1e0CRGTFOulNg/featured